Tag: Idaho

Rising Tide North America Statement of Solidarity with Rising Tide and Anti-Fossil Fuel Activists in the Northwest

In response to the recent news that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) continues its harassment of climate activists in Idaho, Washington and other parts of the Northwest, Rising Tide North America issued the following statement:

“We believe that the extraction of fossil fuels like coal, natural gas and tar sands oil, and the expansion of pipelines and other transportation infrastructure, is a dangerous threat to our communities, our wild places and the climate. We further believe that grassroots organizing and non-violent direct action are bold and effective tools used to stop these threats.

The FBI’s recent harassment of activists and organizers in Idaho and Washington is nothing less than a concerted effort to intimidate and stifle dissent. It’s ridiculous that the FBI spends its time and resources investigating peaceful environmental activists, while the corporations responsible for oil spills, water and air pollution, toxic environmental racism and climate change continue to run amok.

We stand in solidarity with our friends and allies with Wild Idaho Rising Tide, and others in the Northwest, who’ve taken courageous stands against the Keystone XL pipeline, tar sands heavy haul shipments, natural gas extraction and coal exports. Furthermore, we stand in solidarity with all communities that have chosen to take a stand against this horrible industry and protect a livable future.”

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Rising Tide North America is continental network of climate justice groups and individuals challenging the root causes of climate change and for social, environmental and climate justice.

We took amazing action. Not only did we shake things up with direct action against the fossil fuel industries, but also worked with frontline communities most impacted by extraction in Canada, Mexico and the U.S.. Whether it’s blockading pipelines and oil trains or organizing training camps to educate the next generation of climate activist, we’ve truly been rocking the house to make a better world possible.

In the western region of the continent, our chapters in Seattle, Portland, British Columbia, Utah and elsewhere have led actions against fossil fuel infrastructure. Whether it’s been train blockades in Washington or Oregon, or civil disobedience against the tar sands in Utah, Rising Tide has modeled a new level of resistance across the continent.

From Vermont to Cove Point, Maryland, Rising Tide groups and affiliates have organized fierce disruptive campaigns to stop fracking infrastructure throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. As the gas industry attempts to expand their pipelines and export terminals, we mobilize to stop them.

In New York City, in the wake of the massive People’s Climate March, Rising Tide activists, organizers and trainers joined with climate activists around the world to Flood Wall Street. We successfully helped organize a massive occupation of New York’s financial district truly taking the fight to one of the root causes of climate change–Wall Street and it’s investments in oil, gas and coal!

And finally, beginning last March, our chapter in Mexico, Marea Creciente, launched La Caravana Climatica that traveled from Northern Mexico the United Nations climate talks in Lima, Peru this month. While traveling in Ecuador, they had their bus confiscated and are targeted by the authorities on trumped up charges. Despite this government oppression, the group made it to Lima to denounce extraction and industry in Lima.

Here’s an open letter for support from the organizers at Northern Rockies Rising Tide:

Dear community,

We at Northern Rockies Rising Tide have been involved in organizing an International Tar Sands Resistance Summit to take place just outside of Missoula, Montana from November 19 – 22. To promote this event we were working in collaboration with the Indigenous Environmental Network, local community groups, and national environmental organizations. The notion of the camp is to bring together communities directly impacted by Tar Sands development and related infrastructure projects to learn from each other, strategize, and take action against what some have characterized as the most devastating industrial project on the planet. To this end, we have invited organizers and engaged citizens from communities impacted by the XL Energy Pipeline, the Alberta Tar Sands, the Utah Tar Sands (which would be the first Tar Sands surface mining operation in the United States), and the mega-load shipments to attend the Summit. The response we have received in support of this summit has been amazing. Continue reading